One of them suffered major injuries to the same knee in each of the past two years.

The other didn’t play at a major college football program.

Two long shots, who traveled roads a long ways apart just to get to New England, have emerged from the preseason as members of the Patriots’ 53-man roster.

There is no questioning Darius Fleming’s pedigree.

A Golden Domer, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound linebacker appeared in 50 games, starting 36, over a four-year career at Notre Dame, finishing with 158 tackles, 15 sacks, seven passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one blocked kick.

The San Francisco 49ers called Fleming’s name in the 2012 NFL Draft, making him a fifth-round pick, the 165th choice overall.

There were no golden domes nor draft-day calls in Malcolm Butler’s past.

After two seasons at West Alabama, where he transferred from Hinds (Miss.) Community College, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound cornerback signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent on May 19.

And there they both were, brought together at the start of Patriots training camp at Gillette Stadium in July of this year.

Neither of them has played a single down in the NFL: Butler is, after all, a rookie; Fleming, although listed as a third-year player, suffered tears of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on the first day of the 49ers’ rookie mini-camp in 2012 and during training camp last year.

Waived by the Niners on May 12 of this year, Fleming signed with the Patriots four days later.

“Darius had an unfortunate start to his career at San Francisco,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said during a conference call on Sunday. “He was a good player at Notre Dame, good outside linebacker, defensive end, edge setter, pass rusher, and went out to San Francisco hurt his knee, came back the next year after the repair and that gave out. So he had the same procedure on the same knee twice and they released him.

“We felt fortunate to get him and he’s been able to manage well through camp, had a lot of reps, and has played well for us both outside and at times inside and on some occasions as a rusher. So he’s got some versatility.

“He’s a smart kid. He works hard. He’s a tough kid. He came from a good program at Notre Dame and has fit into the team and contributed in a number of areas on defense and in the kicking game.”

Fleming’s impact was immediate – six tackles in a starting role in the Patriots’ 23-6 preseason-opening loss to Washington – and he continued to show up throughout camp and in preseason play, finishing with 11 tackles on defense and one on special teams.

Page 2 of 2 - Likewise, Butler made an immediate impression, also registering six tackles while breaking up two passes in a starting role on defense (he was also credited with one stop on special teams) in that preseason opener with the Redskins.

“Malcolm’s kind of the reverse of (Fleming),” said Belichick. “West Alabama, there were a couple of players that we looked at down there and ended up not signing after the draft. (We) brought him up for our rookie mini-camp and (he) showed us some things there.”

A two-time All-Gulf South Conference selection, Butler continued his solid play for the Patriots throughout the month of August, finishing with 14 tackles, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and a recovery on defense plus the one stop on special teams.

“He’s continued to work hard and improve through camp,” said Belichick. “(It’s a) big jump, (he’s had) a lot to learn, and he’s worked hard at it. He’s gotten a lot of plays in the preseason and I think those plays have helped him. He’s a young player that’s continued to improve through camp.”